Wednesday Recipe!

Wow, I almost forgot the Wednesday Recipe. I have been trying to get back to doing some freezer cooking. I really need to get better about getting dinner on the table early! Here are a couple of my favorite dump chicken recipes.
DUMP TERIYAKI CHICKEN
1 Clove Garlic -- Crushed
1/3 cup Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Rice Wine (Or Sherry)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Minced Ginger
DUMP SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN
1/4 cup Honey
1/4 cup Sherry Vinegar
1/8 cup Soy Sauce
2 Teaspoons Minced Ginger
4 Cloves Crushed Garlic
DUMP STICKY CHICKY
2 Tablespoons Oil
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
3 Tablespoons Smooth Peanut Butter
3 Tablespoons Ketchup
DUMP CHILI MAPLE GLAZED CHICKEN
2 Tablespoons Water
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
DUMP HONEY GLAZED CHICKEN
1/4 cup Butter -- Melted
1/8 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Honey
We call it "DUMP-CHICKEN" because you DUMP the mix into a 1 gallon freezer baggie with the chicken and freeze it. Then when you want to eat it, you thaw overnight in the fridge and DUMP it into a pan and cook it!

All the recipes can be made with 4-8 pieces of chicken (any pieces will do... wings, thighs, drumsticks, bone-in, skin-on, boneless, skinless, maybe even whole chicken), we use 5 boneless/skinless chicken breasts to keep it healthier. To cook the chicken, thaw completely in the fridge, dump into 9x12" pan, bake at 350 until done. For BL/SL breasts it is about 25-35 minutes. For chicken pieces, it runs closer to an hour. Enjoy! You can also use your crock pot for this too!

Wheat Land Communities Fair!

It's fair time again! Last night the kids put together their Creature Features for entry at the fair. We used 4 large zuchinnis, a bushels of carrots & potatoes, a peck of baby corn, a couple of peppers and several apples! Oh, we also used a small forest of toothpicks and bamboo skewers. A good time was had by all.

First Day of School!!!

I read this blog entry from Amy Eldridge the other day and it really struck me how far these children of mine have come. Even knowing the many details of the inner workings of the Chinese orphanage system, I know that I can't even begin to understand how my children spent the first years of their lives - the confusion and sorrow that must have been their daily companions. I think about these beautiful souls in these sturdy little bodies marching off to their first day of school today. The journey they have made is truly amazing. I think about the journey we have made together - 4 times now - to become a family and I am totally blown away by the twists and turns of fate or the hand of a higher power that brought us all together. What started out as a tiny little ad in the Tri-Cities newspaper for an adoption seminar has sprung into a family. I look at them all fresh and eager for the new year - I'm sure we will face trials and tribulations in the year ahead. I also know they make me proud and I love them with every last fiber of my being.

Stacy & Clinton - Where Are You When We Need You!!!

Saturday we went up to the fairgrounds and cleaned up the area for the Spinning, Weaving & Wool display. The kids helped out by running and playing all over the grounds. Bailey & Emma dressed themselves all up for the occassion. I kept expecting the crew from What Not To Wear to jump out of the shadows and take us away!!!

New Blogger!

Here is an actual ebay auction
This is entirely too funny! I think this woman is living my life!!! No wonder I always try to slip out sans children to go shopping! Here is Dawn's blog - I love her writing.

Wednesday's Recipe

I am going to post an easy recipe today. We are getting ready for the fair next week. The kids made this for the fair last year - it was very easy & very good!

My First Fudge

1 pkg. white chocolate chips
1 can white frosting
1/2 t. peppermint extract
Microwave chips & frosting for 2 min. if not completely melted do 30 second
intervals. Add in extract & pour into a buttered 8x8 pan. Set in refrigerator for 1 hour.

This recipe works with all kinds of combo's but the peppermint is a favorite
You can do chocolate chips & choc frosting or we did peanut butter chips &
chocolate frosting too.

Saying Goodbye

Christine
1972 - 2007
Christine, this niece of mine, was beautiful. Even as a child, with her gorgeous red hair, her big brown eyes, her delicate skin and her slight southern drawl that made you feel like honey inside. As a child, she loved my pig Abner, knock knock jokes, elephant jokes and ghost stories told while camping out in Grandma’s front yard. She extracted a promise from me that she could be a bridesmaid at my wedding and when she flew across the US by herself to be in my wedding - that made the wedding party complete.
She had a beautiful smile and a kind heart. Its hard to say goodbye to all that youth and beauty. Our hearts are heavy and it really hurts to say goodbye.

Brothers!

I grew up with 2 brothers. They definitely knew how to push all of my buttons - I guess it is a natural thing and starts at an early age. This morning as we traveled down the road to the Tri-Cities, Ethan pipes up with "Bailey, I had a dream last night!" Bailey says, "What was it about Ethan?" Ethan returns, "I dreamed about pirates - they were killing the Little Mermaid!" Of course, this was all delivered with a really sly grin and then an evil chuckle!! It was met with a cry from the sisters!!! Oh the buttons we can push.

Another Funny Ben Story!

Last night, right after the deputy came by and told us we should pack up and leave, I told the kids to get their pj's and a toy or two in case we had to go to Aunt Helen's for the night. They all ran in the house - 2 minutes later Ben comes out with 5 or 6 boxes of jello pudding. I asked him what he was doing with that and he said "Can't we take this with us? I don't want the pudding to burn up!!!" Ah, yes, all those toys & clothes & books & games and he wants to make sure he has pudding!!!

A Little Too Close For Comfort!

These pictures were taken from our back yard earlier tonight! We had a bunch of fires that started around the railroad about 4 pm today. By 6 pm we had firetrucks surrounding our house and watering down the hill behind us. The sheriff's department came by and told us we should leave, so I took the kids and headed to Ritzville to get some dinner for us and Rod. Rod stayed to run the water. We had a flat tire just as we got onto Hwy 395 headed to Ritzville! What a great way to top off the evening!! Luckily I was able to get ahold of Rick from work and he came to our rescue! He changed the tire for us and we were able to go get dinner. By the time we got back, the fire was pretty much out and we could get back to the house. It smells pretty strongly of smoke but we didn't get singed. I could definitely live without this kind of excitement!!!

Wednesday Recipe - Cobbler!!!

Ok - I am going to post a recipe from Ree. I made this twice this past week both times with fresh peaches and got rave reviews from my tribe of punks and dh Rod. It is wonderful and super easy - what could be better - also has fruit so it has to be healthy!!!

Cobbler

1 cup self rising flour
1 cup sugar + 1/4 cup sugar for top
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter (melted)
2 cups fresh fruit

Mix flour, sugar & milk - whisk. Melt butter and whisk it in. Butter a pan - pour in the batter. Sprinkle fruit over the batter - sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Funny Ben Story

This last weekend we went camping with Sashi & Paul. We got smart this time and hauled the kids bikes along. While we were there, Ben decided that he could ride without his training wheels and we decided that he was entirely too tall for the bike that he had. We went out and got a bigger bike for Ben and handed his down to Emma. They had a blast riding around but got a little carried away and rode out of view. Rod reeled them back in and had them put up their bikes for awhile so they could rethink the whole riding too far away thing. Ben started trying to make deals for riding again - Ben: Can I just ride here on the grass - Dad: No - Ben: How about on the gravel - Dad: No - Ben: Maybe just down by the restrooms - Dad: No. Ben gets the idea and sulks in a chair. Up pops Ethan - Ethan: Can I ride here on the grass - Dad: No - Ethan: How about on the gravel - Dad: No - Ben pipes up with: Welcome to my world Ethan!!!

20th Anniversary

Today is a day to look back over our life together. Its been good. We've had alot of fun - been to some unique and exotic places. I love this quote from Through the Painted Desert by Donald Miller (if I ever get Emma's announcements out - it will be on the back of them). "And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter.... My hope is your story will be about changing... about learning to love a child... about learning to love others more than we love ourselves... We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed." I think that pretty much is the sum of our lives together - we left and came home - weathered summer and winter - we've learned to love deeply and we are still venturing out.
I looked up the traditional wedding gifts for a 20th Anniversary - it's China!!! Looks like we have given ourselves an Anniversary gift that just keeps giving. Wonder what the next 20 years will bring. I do know this, they won't be boring.
Who are these young'uns? Were we really ever that young! And what exactly was that caterpiller doing on Rod's upper lip - and is that a mullet under that veil.

And is he really throwing up into my hand - guess love conquers all!

Wednesday's Recipe

Asian Chicken Salad

1/2 head shredded cabbage
4 green onions, chopped
3 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 green pepper (optional)
1 pkg. Chicken flavored Ramen noodles, crushed

2 T. sesame seeds, toasted
1/2 c. slivered almonds, toasted
1 cooked and cubed chicken breast
(I marinate in Yoshida sauce)

Dressing:
2 T sugar
3 T vinegar
1/2 c. salad oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Pkg. of seasoning mix from Ramen noodles

Toss all ingredients together, then add dressing shortly before serving.


This is what I am planning on taking to the picnic Friday night. Although, since I couldn't follow a recipe if my life depended on it, I usually use a little more cabbage, a little less oil, no green peppers or onions! Rod often asks why I even bother with the recipes since I don't follow them - I tell him they are guide lines!! No hard and fast rules in cooking!!! Well maybe a few but they are mostly dealing with things like yeast and baking temperatures!!!

Twenty Years Ago

What were you doing twenty years ago? If you were in diapers don't tell me!!! Twenty years ago tonight, my sister Dorothy & I were busily working on a wedding dress. I think Dot stayed up all night working on it. After all, the wedding was the next day and we had only cut it out that afternoon!!!! Ah, the memories!!! We weren't really that bad at planning - I was going to wear Dot's wedding dress but when she got to Moscow we decided that it just didn't look that good on me!!! What else to do but go to the fabric store and start sewing!!! My mom finished hemming the dress on the way to the church in Deary - we were 1/2 hour late for the wedding - everyone was in the church when I got there and Rod had to keep reassuring everyone that I was going to show. Ah yes, the memories!!! I guess if we made it through that wedding we figured we could make it through anything.

Exciting Day

Most of the time I really like the fact that we live right on the edge of town. We only have neighbors on one side of us. Other times I am reminded of the fact that it means there isn't anything between us and a hill of dry sagebrush & grass!

Rod's Birthday!

Today is Rod's Birthday - so if you see him today, give him a wave & ask him how it feels to be 42!!!!
If you've got a minute, check out Ree's cooking blog. Her shrimp look wonderful!!!

Wednesday Recipe: Baked Potato Soup

The kids really love this. Sometimes I add corn to it. Bailey has been known to eat several bowls of it at one sitting!!!

America's Best Baked Potato Soup
Serving Size : 12
5 Medium baking potatoes
8 Slices bacon
1 Cup sweet onions -- chopped
2/3 Cup all-purpose flour
6 Cups chicken broth
2 Cups half and half (can use skim milk with 1/2 cup powdered milk added)
1/4 Cup fresh parsley -- chopped
1 1/2 Teaspoons garlic -- minced
1 1/2 Teaspoons dried basil
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 Teaspoon hot sauce
1 3/4 Cups shredded cheddar cheese -- divided
1 Cup green onions, sliced -- divided
1/4 Cup fresh parsley -- chopped

Wash potatoes; prick several times with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until done; let cool. Peel potatoes, and slice crosswise.

Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp; remove bacon, reserving drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon, and set aside.

Cook onion in drippings, stirring constantly, until tender; add flour, stirring well. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add chicken broth; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in potato, half-and-half, and next 6 ingredients. Bring to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, 10 minutes (do not boil). Stir in 1 cup cheese and 1/4 cup green onions. Cook until cheese melts, stirring often.
Again freeze at this point. Some people do not like potato soup once it has been frozen... WE do...

Ladle soup into individual soup bowls. Top evenly with crumbled bacon. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 3/4 cup cheese, 3/4 cup green onions, and parsley.